African violet plant named Shenandoah

ABSTRACT

An African violet plant named Shenandoah, characterized by its semi-double, dark blue flowers with wavy edges; nice bouquet formed on strong upright flower stems; vigorous growth habit; round to oval, medium green, slightly serrated leaves; and long lasting, non-dropping flowering habit.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Africanviolet plant, botanically known as Saintpaulia ionantha, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name Shenandoah.

The new cultivar was referred to during the breeding and selectionprocess by the designation H34/3, and is a product of a planned breedingprogram. The new cultivar was originated from a cross made by applicantin a controlled breeding program in Haffen, Federal Republic of Germany.The female, or seed parent was a cultivar designated d198/5 blue. Themale, or pollen parent was a cultivar designated GG4 Pink.

Shenandoah was discovered and selected by me as a flowering plant withinthe progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Haffen,Federal Republic of Germany. Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar byleaf cuttings, as performed by me at Haffen, Federal Republic ofGermany, has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retainedthrough successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Shenandoah has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day length. Thefollowing observations, measurements and values describe the newcultivar as grown in 10 cm pots in Haffen, Federal Republic of Germanyand Nashville, Tenn. under greenhouse conditions which closelyapproximate those generally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Shenandoah which in combination distinguishthis African violet as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Semi-double, dark blue flowers with wavy edges.

2. Forms a nice bouquet on strong upright flower stems.

3. Profuse flowering.

4. Each plant has 9-10 stems, each of which carries 8-10 and moregenerally violet-shaped but more round looking flowers.

5. Vigorous grower.

6. Plant saleable 10-11 weeks after potting.

7. Medium green, round to oval leaves, slightly serrated.

8. Long-lasting, non-dropping flowers.

9. Seed capsules push slightly through.

10. After maturity the flowers dry off and remain on the pedunclewithout becoming infected by botrytis.

The accompanying color photographic drawing shows a typical specimenplant of the new cultivar. The colors appearing in the photograph are astrue as possible with color illustrations of this type.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart (RHS), except where general colors ofordinary significance are referred to. Color values were taken undernatural light conditions at approximately 2:00 p.m. in Nashville, Tenn.Under cooler growing conditions and more intensive lighting, the bluecolor is more intense.

Botanical classification: Saintpaulia ionantha, Ramat., cv. Shenandoah.

Parentage:

Male parent.--GG4 Pink.

Female parent.--d198/5 blue.

Propagation: The new cultivar holds its distinguishing characteristicsthrough successive propagations by leaf cuttings and by division ofshoots.

Plant: From 8 to 11 cm tall when grown in pots, and 25-29 cm in diameterwhen fully grown. The growth rate is vigorous.

Leaves.--Shape: Round to oval, slightly serrated, slightly shiny, hairy.Diameter: 70-80 mm wide and 80-90 mm long. Texture: Velvety. Ribs andveins: Upperside well visible, underside very well pronounced, lightgreen and shiny. Color (upper side): Green 139 between A and B. Color(under side): Yellow green 147D. Petioles: Light green, occasionallywith purplish touch.

Flowers.--Buds: Ball-shaped, hairy, 7-8 mm before opening, purple.Sepals: Five (5) in number, purplish green. Calyx: Funnel-shaped.Aspect: Spear-shaped, hairy. Peduncle: Strong, upright, purplish brown.

Individual flowers.--Size: 35 to 40 mm in diameter. Shape: Semi-doublewith slightly wavy edges. Color (upper side): Violet blue 89 between Band C. Color (under side): Violet blue 91A. Borne: Each flower stemcarries 8-10 and more flowers on strong, upright, peduncles that arefree standing above the leaves. Corolla: Compact flower head. Floweringhabit: Flowers 9-10 weeks after potting.

Reproductive organs.--Stamens: 2-3 in number. Anthers: 2-3, composed of4-6 anther cells, seed capsule pushes slightly through. Filaments: 4-5mm long, yellowish green on one side, dark purple on the other. PollenColor: Yellow 7A. Styles: 6-7 mm, purplish blue, base of ovary lightgreen.

Roots.--Well established, white, turning slightly brownish when older.

Disease resistance: Good.

General observations: Shenandoah is a very attractive, vigorous growerwith medium green, round to oval leaves that are slightly serrated.Approximately 9-10 weeks after potting the plant has developed 9-10strong upright flower stems, each of which carries 8-10 and more darkblue semi-double flowers with slightly wavy edges. The flower colorcontrasts nicely with the bright yellow anthers. The flowers consist ofdouble violet-shaped flowers positioned over each other (giving eachflower a total of 10 petals), making the blossom look round.Occasionally there are additional little petals. The flowers form acompact flower head that is free standing above the leaves. The flowersare long-lasting and non-dropping, and the seed capsule pushes slightlythrough.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of African violet namedShenandoah, as described and illustrated, and particularly characterizedby its semi-double, dark blue flowers with wavy edges; nice bouquetformed on strong upright flower stems; vigorous growth habit; round tooval, medium green, slightly serrated leaves; and long lasting,non-dropping flowering habit.